Not Alone

This episode is brought to you by Little Saints, a zero-sugar, non-alcoholic cocktail and spirits brand created for people who love the ritual of drinking but not the aftermath. Use code VALERIA for 15% off at https://littlesaints.com In this episode of Not Alone, Valeria sits down with Megan Klein, founder of Little Saints, a non-alcoholic cocktails and spirits brand, for a candid conversation about sober curiosity, reinvention, and building a business that challenges the way we socialize. Megan shares her unconventional career path and what she discovered after testing nearly every non-alcoholic drink on the market. They dive into betting on yourself, her Shark Tank experience (and why she walked away from the offers), and her complicated relationship with the word “sober.” The conversation goes deeper into the physical and emotional effects of alcohol, why so many of us drink to numb, and what dating without alcohol can look like. Megan also opens up about how her personal experiences, including extensive work with ayahuasca, shaped her outlook on wellness, presence, and connection. It’s a thoughtful, honest episode about choosing clarity, building something meaningful, and redefining what it means to feel good. Follow Little Saints on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlesaintsco/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@littlesaintsco Shop Little Saints drinks here: https://littlesaints.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoruaDMYXrtdiYTR7lCR2iMKX2fpyV74KyHXDhxcv7bg1zQ7Omza Megan’s Book Recs: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron - https://amzn.to/498dvYq  A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas - https://amzn.to/44QVHys  Shop my looks from this episode:  https://shopmy.us/collections/3446096?tab=collections Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/  What we talked about:  0:20 - Dry January & Sober Curiosity  2:35 - Introducing Megan Klein 4:19 - Start of interview 6:55 - Her common thread through careers 9:55 - Pivot from farming to a food brand 12:04 - Birth of Little Saints during Covid 13:18 - Testing all the non-alcoholic drinks 15:03 - Explaining Little Saints 16:50 - Decision to invest her own money 17:28 - Selling Little Saints out of a trailer 19:18 - Megan’s Shark Tank experience 21:57 - Why she didn't take the deal 22:40 - After the tank 23:40 - Why she dislikes the word ‘sober’ 27:30 - The side effects of drinking alcohol  31:30 - Drinking to numb ourselves 33:00 - Personal benefits from not drinking 35:54 - Doing Ayahuasca 60 times  38:16 - Lessons learned from Ayahuasca 39:42 - Data about the impact of alcohol  41:14 - Dating without alcohol  43:50 - What’s next for Little Saints 48:10 - Megan’s book recommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re rolling out some of Gary’s most iconic moments on Not Alone with a compilation of his most memorable conversations. We’re starting with the story of how Gary and Valeria’s age gap shaped their relationship from day one, how their mothers reacted, the moment Gary asked for Valeria’s hand in marriage. Then, we shift into a raw and revealing conversation about infidelity, why men cheat, the role of emotional maturity, the importance of communication, and why working on yourself is essential to building a lasting relationship. Finally, we dive into marriage and money: power dynamics, childhood beliefs around wealth, business wins and losses, spending freedoms in marriage, and the decisions that shaped their future together. This is the ultimate “Gary Edition,” full of vulnerability, humor, and the kind of perspective you can only get from Mr. Lipovetsky. Listen to the full episodes here: Bridging the Gap: Age Differences and Marital Challenges with Gary Lipovetsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hCykGJXAgE&t=1153s Why Do Men Cheat? Understanding Infidelity in Relationships & Marriage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0FlLiQmsxI Money and Marriage: An Honest Conversation About Our Finances with Gary Lipovetsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOzQ6arTX44 Shop my looks from this episode:  https://www.shopltk.com/explore/valerialipovetsky/posts/1fb71221-858b-11ee-83c1-0242ac110002 https://shopmy.us/collections/1442019 https://shopmy.us/collections/2203496?tab=collections Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/  https://www.tiktok.com/@valeria.lipovetsky Follow Not Alone: https://www.instagram.com/notalonepod/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@notalone.pod What we talked about:  0:28 - Setting up Gary’s compilation episode 2:52 - What their moms thought of their age gap 7:10 - Asking Valeria’s mom for her hand in marriage 8:02 - Gary’s relationship with Valeria’s mom 10:13 - Advice for couples with an age gap  12:36 - The mentality difference when it comes to age 15:34 - Gary uplifting Valeria’s career 16:37 - Meeting Kris Jenner 19:00 - Gary’s proudest moments 20:35 - Theories on why men cheat 27:13 - Why men in their 20s cheat 30:19 - Gary was a ghoster 35:00 - The golden cage 35:50 - Communication is key 36:24 - Being satisfied with your marriage 38:10 - Importance of working on yourself in marriage 39:35 - Valeria never feeling poor as a child 41:43 - Gary’s deal that didn’t go through 45:20 - Wives needing permission to spend money 49:44 - Best money Gary has ever spent 50:50 - Valeria’s nutrition diploma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 2 of Valeria’s conversation with Dr. Mindy Pelz, the focus shifts from understanding menopause to actively working with it to improve your life. Dr. Mindy introduces the concept of “microdosing menopause,” breaking down simple, daily habits women can use to support their changing brains and bodies, from metabolic markers like hemoglobin A1C to lifestyle shifts that ease anxiety and improve energy. They dive into why menopause often acts as a mirror, revealing what’s no longer working in your life, while reframing this phase as a powerful leadership chapter rooted in the “grandmother hypothesis.” The episode also covers how to communicate changes with partners, which hormones to check at different ages, how to build a true alliance with your doctor, and a clear-eyed discussion of peptides and hormone replacement therapy. Ultimately, Dr. Mindy reframes menopause not as something to “get through,” but as a strategic, self-aware upgrade, one that gives women the tools, clarity and confidence to step into the most grounded and powerful phase of their lives. Follow Dr. Mindy on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.mindypelz/?hl=en TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@drmindypelz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/drmindypelz Shop her new book, AGE LIKE A GIRL, and others: https://www.drmindypelz.com/books Listen to her podcast: https://www.drmindypelz.com/resetter-podcast Shop my looks from this episode: https://shopmy.us/collections/3269976?tab=collections Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/  What we talked about:  0:24 - End of Hanukkah  0:42 - Setting up Part 2 with Dr. Mindy 1:35 - ‘Microdosing Menopause’ concept 3:15 - Start of conversation 4:02 - Make sure hemoglobin A1C is close to 5 4:45 - Daily habits you can do to support the changes 6:15 - Communicating changes with partners 10:50 - What’s causing anxiety 13:28 - Menopause is a mirror of what is & isn’t working  16:10 - The grandmother hypothesis 19:16 - The leadership phase 26:00 - What hormones women should check at certain ages 30:15 - Form an alliance with your doctor 32:45 - What we need to know about peptides 34:22 - Pros and Cons of Hormone Replacement Therapy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part one of this powerful and insightful two-part conversation of Not Alone, Valeria sits down with Dr. Mindy Pelz to unpack the real reason she wrote Age Like a Girl, and why menopause is far more than a hormonal ending, but a profound rewiring of a woman’s brain and identity. Dr. Mindy opens up about her own breaking point, the need to pull away and admit “I’m not okay,” and what actually happens to women emotionally, neurologically, and metabolically as estrogen fades. Together, they explore the loss of key neurochemicals, the shift away from people-pleasing, and why menopause may be preparing women to become better, more intentional leaders. This episode also offers practical insight for women in their 30s and 40s on lifestyle changes, micro-habits, and ways to support dopamine, serotonin, and metabolic health, setting the foundation for the next chapter of power rather than decline. Follow Dr. Mindy on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.mindypelz/?hl=en TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@drmindypelz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/drmindypelz Shop her books: https://www.drmindypelz.com/books Listen to her podcast: https://www.drmindypelz.com/resetter-podcast Shop my looks from this episode: https://shopmy.us/collections/3269976?tab=collections Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/  What we talked about:  0:35 - Celebrating the holidays with family 2:05 - Introducing Dr. Mindy Pelz 4:16 - Start of the interview 5:12 - Why she wrote “Age Like a Girl” 8:42 - Dr. Mindy’s personal journey with menopause 11:00 - The breaking point  11:52 - Pulling away & needing isolation 14:07 - Admitting to people “I’m not okay” 17:43 - What happens to women after menopause 18:45 - Losing the neurons that make women people-pleasers 20:56 - Learning to ask yourself “What do I want?” 23:36 - The three phases of rewiring in women’s brains 26:01 - Menopause rewires women to be better leaders 29:20 - Losing over 12 different neurochemicals  30:51 - What 30 & 40-year-olds need to know now 31:08 - Lifestyle & neurochemical shifts 32:10 - Getting metabolic system in order 34:26 - Making time for yourself 35:24 - Ways to help dopamine & serotonin  39:04 - Shifting out of your old habits 40:36 - Becoming more sensitive to your environment 42:36 - Microdosing habits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special “Miami Besties” episode of Not Alone, Valeria brings together the most memorable, honest, and vulnerable moments from her conversations with the women closest to her. The episode begins with friend Vita Sidorkina, whose conversation dives into raising resilient kids, the value of honesty with children, and the Russian cultural principles she still carries. Plus, an open conversation about how “daddy issues” can shape who we choose to marry and life with a husband who is 20 years older. Next, Isabela Grutman reflects on what marrying young taught her, navigating the early modeling world, and the reality of “high-value” men. We also get into long-term partnerships, and what it means to renegotiate your marriage as you evolve. Then, Martha Graeff opens up about her first marriage, the courage it took to prioritize her mental health, and the financial realities of leaving, including why she believes prenups are empowering, not limiting. Finally, Camila Coelho shares her deeply personal experience growing up with epilepsy, from getting diagnosed as a child to managing her condition as an adult, and the stigma that still surrounds it.  Together, these conversations reveal the raw, real, and resilient sides of womanhood, friendship,and the stories that shape us. Shop my looks from this episode: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/3190104 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/  https://www.tiktok.com/@valeria.lipovetsky?lang=en Follow Not Alone TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notalone.pod What we talked about:  0:26 - Setting up the “Miami Besties” Episode 1:53 - Introducing friend Vita Sidorkina  3:22 - Start of Vita  3:26 - Bringing back honest communication with children 5:09 - People being too soft 7:28 - Russian values Vita holds on to 9:50 - Not growing up with childhood trauma 11:15 - Daddy issues & marital age-gaps 15:21 - Introducing friend Isabela Grutman 16:22 - Start of Isabela  16:26 - Wasting people’s time 18:06 - Marrying young vs. later in life 21:47 - Modeling at a young age 22:57 - Women looking for high-value men 23:53 - Lessons from marriage 25:15 - Not taking everything personally 26:18 - Renegotiating the marriage terms 30:01 - Introducing friend Martha Graeff 31:07 - Start of Martha  31:28 - Early days with her ex-husband 33:35 - Prioritizing mental health 35:16 - Financial aspect of leaving your marriage 36:09 - Importance of a prenup  38:25 - Introducing friend Camila Coehlo 39:41 - Start of Camila  40:19 - Getting diagnosed with epilepsy as a child 44:00 - Managing her type of epilepsy 45:55 - The stigma around epilepsy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices